So, with the release of Birth by Sleep in Japan, I'm sure a lot of you will see a lot of nonsense in my previous theories with Terra, Aqua, and Ven, but I refuse to watch any of the videos, or else when I get the game, I won't be interested in it anymore! So, please just go with me.
Moving on, I'm sorry it took so long for me to update! I've had plenty of ideas, thanks to a friend RPing with me, but this particular chapter was ridiculously difficult to get out, you know? But hey, here it is!
Chapter 7:
"Do you remember me Sora?" The brunette looked around sleepily, shaking his head slowly. The voice sounded familiar, true, but in his tried state of mind, he couldn't make out anything. There was a short laugh. "I'm not surprised. It was a long time ago, the last time we met. You did me a favor, one I could never forget or fully repay you for." Sora looked around, no realizing that he was standing on the dock of Destiny Islands.
"This is a dream," he murmured. "I'm at Merlin's house, right?" He distinctly remembered curling up to Riku, Riku's arms wrapping around him as he whispered a suggestion for their next destination, and Roxas' cursed as he struggled to get comfortable on the hard, wood floor.
"Yeah. But this isn't quite a dream. I brought you here to talk."
"Okay, but who are you?" Sora looked around once more, seeing no one as he expected.
"I'm right beside you," Sora looked over, and indeed, there was a boy next to him. He let out a startled cry and stumbled back, but a hand caught his arm and pulled him up before you could hit the water. "Sorry!" he laughed. "I didn't mean to scare you!"
"R-Roxas?" The boy grinned and shook his head.
"I expected that. No. Look closer." The boy did look just like Roxas, but the differences were in his attire. The jacket that Roxas always wore was a solid beige color, but half of this boy's jacket was black and the zipper had a different shape. There were two black straps that crossed his chest, forming an 'x'; then there was the golden plate of armor that clung to the boy's arm.
Sora furrowed his brows, thinking back as far as he could remember. Strangers on the island, a muscular brunette and a blond, both with armor like knights from some fairytale. He remembered a light and a voice asking him to accept another's heart so it wouldn't disappear.
"I kind of remember," Sora muttered, clawing at his mind for a name. "You joined your heart with mine. I just can't think of—"
"Ventus, though I prefer Ven. I'm surprised you remembered me at all." Ven's voice was teasing and he was smiling brightly. "You tend to be a bit absentminded."
"You haven't changed at all from what I remember." Sora scratched his head, a look of guilt marring his face.
"I haven't had a body to age, so I'm exactly the same as I was when I disappeared," Ven let his eyes roam Sora's face, understanding shining in his blue depths. "Hey…you're feeling guilty for forgetting me?"
"Well, yeah. You had to be lonely with no one to talk to. Besides, you'd think something like that would stay with me." Ven shook his head, his smile returning.
"That's not true. Even though you never noticed, I got to know a lot of new people through you. Riku and Kairi, Donald and Goofy, and every other person you met in the other worlds you visited. And through Roxas, I met Axel, Xion, and his friends in Twilight Town. I was never really lonely, so don't worry, okay?" Sora cocked his head and crossed his arms.
"Through Roxas? What do you mean?" Ven sighed, sitting down and motioning for Sora to do the same. Once settled, Ven began to explain.
"I'm not quite sure how it happened. When you lost your heart and became a Heartless, Roxas came to exist. You know that." Sora nodded, thinking back to when Riku had informed him of Roxas' existence. "Well, when you lost your heart, mine was with yours. But at that time, my heart actually split into two. One half returned to you when you were restored, while the other joined with Roxas. I think that's why he looks like me."
"Oh," Sora looked into the water, his reflection staring back at him. His alone. "Does Roxas have his own heart or is it yours? Is Roxas still a Nobody?" It upset him to think that Roxas may have yet to be complete, to fully belong to himself.
Ven smiled sadly. "Its there. He hasn't found it yet though. Roxas uses our hearts to make up for what he fears he doesn't have. He feels that there's no proof that his feelings are his own. It eats at him more than he'll ever let on." Sora scowled, shaking his head bitterly.
"No proof? The feelings he has for Axel can belong to no one else! He's willing to travel to every world in existence just to find him!"
"Tell him that. I think he really needs to hear that. Who knows? Maybe that'll be the push he needs to find his heart." Ven sighed, dipping his hand into the water. "Do you think the two of you would be willing to do something for me? If it doesn't interfere with your search, that is."
"If we can. What do you need?" Ven seemed reluctant, closing his eyes as if afraid to ask.
"I don't want to get in the way of Roxas' search for Axel, but I'm desperate. My heart's strong enough now. After being a part of you and Roxas, I'm not afraid of the darkness and I'm confident that I can handle anything it throws at me."
"You want your heart back, right?" Ven nodded, almost enthusiastically, but still reluctant. "But how? How do we give it back?"
"I don't really know, but Aqua should! Earlier today, Roxas ran into her and Terra. If you find them again, tell them I'm ready…I want to wake up." He said the last part so softly, so hopefully.
"How can I say no? I mean…" Sora stood, looking around worriedly as everything began to fade away.
"You're waking up. It's fine." Ven stood as well, looking at Sora evenly. Sora remembered looking up at this same person in awe when he was a kid. Now they were the same height, both warriors of the keyblade, complete equals.
"I'll talk to Roxas and Riku. I promise I'll do what I can," Sora rushed through the words as Ven began to fade as well. He didn't care what the blond said. It had to be lonely like this.
"Thank you Sora…"
Sora hissed loudly as the sunlight peeked through his eyelids, forcing them shut again. "Ngh…too early!" he whined, but he sat up nonetheless, his promise to Ven fresh in his mind. Now there was the problem with convincing Riku and Roxas, though Roxas was his main concern. He let out a heavy sigh and slouched where he sat.
"That was a heavy sigh," a thick, tired voice called from the corner of the room. Sora glanced over at Roxas, fighting back a grin. He settled for a look of sympathy as the blond yawned loudly. He was huddled in the corner with the blankets wrapped tightly around himself; his eyelids seemed heavy as he struggled to keep them open. Roxas obviously hadn't slept at all.
"Just thinking to myself," he murmured quietly, glancing at the still sleeping Riku. "Hey Roxas…you'd be willing to help someone if they really needed it, right?" Roxas quirked an eyebrow, tightening the blankets around himself. "Especially if you were the only one who could help?"
"Yeah, I suppose. Why?" Roxas eyed the brunette warily, trying to force himself fully awake lest he say something he didn't mean.
Sora explained everything. He told Roxas what he remembered about meeting Ven on the islands when he was still just a little kid, told him about Ven coming to him and hopefully asking him to cooperate in his awakening, his freedom. Roxas listened, nodding now and then, mumbling a response when necessary. When Sora finished, Roxas looked out the window thoughtfully.
"I know you want to find Axel, but this may not take long. And after we do this, maybe Ven and his friend will help us," Sora pleaded, looking at the tired blond. "I promised him I'd try Roxas. We have to find Aqua and Terra! If they left to go somewhere else, we'll have to search the other worlds anyway so you don't really have to stop searching for Axel. Come on Rox."
Roxas chanced a glance at Sora, scowling at the pleading look he was met with. It was borderline puppy eyes, damn him! "Sora, I don't want to stop looking for Axel. If Xemnas finds him—"
"I know Roxas! I want you want to find him, I really do, but think about how Ven must feel! He can only exist through us, not through himself. He's not his own person anymore and he desperately wants to be. You more than anyone should know what that feels like." Roxas flinched at those words, remembering his time as a part of Sora, only being able to watch things unfold without being able to do anything about them. "You had to feel lonely right? Ven's going through that right now, and has been for years."
The blond let out a sigh, eyes narrowing as if angry. He was kind of frustrated, but at the same time he completely understood Sora's determination to help. His other had always been that way from what he gathered, and it wouldn't do if Sora changed now. Said brunette seemed to deflate as the time passed in silence, eyes still pleading with him to help. Suddenly, Roxas stood and walked to the door, pausing to offer Sora a small smile.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
The keyblade master cocked his head, muttering a confused, "What?"
"If we want to find that Aqua girl," Roxas pushed the door open, shivering as the cold winter air replaced the previous warmth, "we need to go before she leaves, if she hasn't already, I mean."
"Are you serious? You're really okay with this? I mean, I totally understand if you don't want to Roxas. Axel could be in immediate danger and not even know it," Sora let his words spill out without thinking them over. This made Roxas laugh quietly.
"Don't beg me to help and then turn around, saying you understand if I don't. And don't worry. I have a feeling that Axel knows full and well that he's in trouble, and I think he's safer than we are." The brunette furrowed his brow and cocked his head in a "What do you mean?" kind of way. "Axel was in the Organization for a long time. Even with their new abilities, I think he can handle himself for now. Besides, Ven's friends can use keyblades like us, and if they're willing to offer their help in exchange for ours, all the better. When it comes down to it the Organization won't know what hit them."
"And if they don't decide to help us?" Sora grinned at Roxas' deadpanned look. "Oh, come on now. You don't need something in return for helping someone! Even if they don't help us in return, we'll be fine. Besides, the possibility's still there, you know?"
The blond nodded slightly, glancing at the still sleeping Riku. "What about him?" Sora glanced down, smiling fondly at the other boy. Riku always seemed so peaceful when he slept.
"Let's just let him sleep. We can handle finding Ven's friends ourselves; Riku will come looking for us as soon as he wakes up." Sora bounced out the door, looking back at Roxas expectantly.
"Okay then, I guess. Let's get this done." Roxas smiled at the answering grin, running ahead of the brunette to begin their search.
"Good morning Terra!" Terra glanced up from his breakfast and smiled slightly at Aqua's disheveled appearance.
"Sleep well?" he asked teasingly, smirking at the sharp glare he received. "Don't worry. Neither did I."
Aqua's expression softened as she took the seat across from him, grabbing a menu to look over. "Ven?" she asked softly.
He nodded, leaning his head to rest in his hand. "I had a dream that we were all together again. It was like nothing ever happened and Ven's smile…I never realized how much I missed it until that dream." Aqua let out a snort from behind her menu, laughing at the cliché statement. Terra raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
"You're so corny! What would Ven say if he heard you say something like that?" Terra rolled his eyes, but smiled anyway. What would Ven say if he heard him talk like that? Perhaps he'd have to relay it to him one day just to see. "Anyway, I'm going to get myself a drink and order something for breakfast. Be right back!"
He watched the bluenette walk off, shaking his head slightly. At the very least he had one friend back and he felt that he'd soon have the other. If only he could…no, Aqua had told him quite firmly that only Sora and Roxas would know when Ven was ready to wake. He would just have to be patient and calm until that time came, and in the meantime, he would have to watch the two boys to make sure no harm came to them. Without both of them, Ven could never wake.
"Sora, this is no time to be eating! If we don't catch them before they leave, then who knows when we'll run into them again!" Terra glanced up at the two boys who had just walked into the restaurant, Sora and Roxas both.
"Just a little breakfast, nothing too big. If they haven't left yet, chances are they won't leave for a while. It's pretty early after all." Roxas huffed and rolled his eyes. There was really no arguing with the brunette when he had his mind set on food. "Anyway," Sora grinned, "I can hear your stomach from a mile away."
Roxas' face flushed lightly when his own stomach grumbled in agreement to Sora's argument. "F-Fine, just a quick breakfast, and then back to searching." Sora laughed and pushed the blond into one of the booths.
Terra raised a brow curiously. They were searching for someone…maybe it was the boy Roxas had mentioned he was searching for yesterday or perhaps Riku had run off? No, he wouldn't have left them here stranded. The urge to greet the two halves was just too strong, anything to be near Ven, if only in spirit. Apparently Aqua had the same urge, because the next time Terra glanced over to the two boys, she was beside their table, a small smile on her face.
"Hello again Roxas," she greeted, offering him a smile before turning to Sora. "And…"
"Sora. Um…you're Aqua, right?" Sora seemed surprised with himself. The name just came to him as soon as he'd seen her face, not to mention Ven's nagging voice in the back of his mind calling out to him.
"That's her! Sora, tell her!"
"That's right. Did you need something?" Sora's tone was inquiring, but reluctant. Roxas glanced at Sora and nodded encouragingly. "Well, what is it?"
"Its Ven," he murmured, swallowing nervously as when her breath seemed to catch in her throat. "He says he's ready to wake up, but he figured you'd be the only one to know how to go about it." Aqua's eyes watered slightly, a short laugh escaping her.
"Y-Yes, of course!" she laughed, wiping at her eyes. "Its pretty simple, but we need the two of you to manage it. Oh, Terra, did you hear them? Ven's ready!" Terra swallowed hard and nodded.
"We want to help. That's why we were looking for you in the first place." Sora grinned in relief. Roxas on the other hand seemed less than sure. He sighed heavily, glancing at Sora and Aqua. They seemed relieved, happy even, but…
"You don't want to help?" Roxas looked up at the older brunette. Terra was looking at him, his features softened compared to what Roxas had seen of him yesterday. He seemed worried by the blonde's indecision.
"Its not that I don't want to help. I just want to find the person I'm looking for before something bad happens, and now I have to stop to do this. I have nothing against helping Ven, of course, and I'm glad that the three of you will be together again after so long. I just…"
"…wish it were you and Axel." Sora finished, sighing at his other's defeated look. "Come on Roxas. You already said that you knew Axel would be okay for the time being and that he's probably safer than us."
"And this shouldn't take long at all. The longest part will be getting to where Ven is, which isn't far from here." Aqua smiled at Roxas reassuringly. "Please, we can't do this without you."
"If that's not enough," Terra started, crossing his arms thoughtfully, "I'll help you with your search. Ven and Aqua will too, if they wish to."
Roxas stared at the table thoughtfully. He was being selfish, but he truly wanted to find Axel before anything bad happened. "I guess…Axel will have to wait a little longer. But I swear, if anything happens to him, I'm holding the lot of you responsible."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Terra murmured, closing his eyes as the thought of his dream from the previous night becoming a reality filled his thoughts. Soon, maybe this entire mess that they had gone through would seem like nothing more than a bad dream.
Uh…definitely not a great chapter. But if you still wish to review, please don't flame me! Sorry, but I can only reassure that it'll get better.